Global public health organization NSF International has hired two renowned building water health experts to grow NSF’s Centre of Excellence for Building Water Health. Marcos Bensoussan joins NSF as strategic business manager, and Fernando Bensoussan as risk assessor. They are global experts in building water quality and water management plans, and will lead the Center which provides valuable information and resources about water safety for building owners, industry professionals and regulators. This is important because microorganisms such as Legionella can enter building water plumbing systems and, over time, amplify to large numbers, causing illnesses or even death.
"Marcos and Fernando Bensoussan bring nearly 50 years of combined experience to NSF International," says Clif McLellan, NSF international’s Water Division vice-president.
"Adding to NSF’s 50-year legacy in water systems safety, the Bensoussans’ knowledge and expertise in building water risk assessment, building water management and water safety plans will strengthen our global service offerings in building water health."
In their new roles, Marcos Bensoussan will be responsible for implementing the global plan for the NSF International Building Water Health Centre of Excellence, leading training, sales and technical staff, and developing customer relationships. Fernando Bensoussan is responsible for technical development of safety plans, and he will train technical staff and perform risk assessments.
Marcos and Fernando Bensoussan will also help to develop building safety and quality services, including water safety and air quality, in Latin America from their location in São Paulo, Brazil. These services include:
- Water safety plans for buildings and for large industries like pharma biotech, food and beverage. These plans will contain control measures, monitoring and corrective actions for risks associated with all water systems (domestic, process, utilities) at a specific site. The plan is based on a risk assessment that identifies hazards and hazardous events that could harm people in direct or indirect contact with water through ingestion, inhalation and skin contact
- Risk assessments for Legionella to identify hazards associated with Legionella in water systems (domestic, process, utilities) of a specific site. NSF will evaluate these hazards as risks and make recommendations to eliminate or control these risks
- Risk assessments for indoor air quality (specific to Brazil). NSF will identify hazards associated with air quality related to the indoor environment and HVAC systems of a specific site. NSF will evaluate these hazards as risks and make recommendations to eliminate or control those risks
Prior to joining NSF International in August 2016, Marcos and Fernando Bensoussan were co-owners of SETRI, a consulting company that provides risk mitigation services and helps companies create building water safety plans. Marcos served as president and Fernando as technical director.
Marcos Bensoussan has 40 years’ experience in water systems safety and founded SETRI in 2008. He has participated in several congresses in Brazil and abroad about Legionella and water safety plans. He developed a HACCP risk assessment methodology for Legionella as well as a water safety plan template for buildings and industries based on World Health Organization guidelines and methods. He published and edited the books Legionella in the View of Specialists (2014) and Water Safety Plan in the View of Specialists (2015). He is a member of the Brazilian National Standards Organization (ABNT) committee for the Standard for Legionella Prevention in Water Systems.
Prior to founding SETRI, Marcos worked for NALCO for 31 years, holding a variety of managerial roles in marketing, sales, quality assurance and education/training. He developed more than 50 new products for industrial and drinking water treatment and more than 20 different services related to water systems and indoor air quality. He was a founding member of the Brazil Green Building Council and helped introduce LEED certification in Brazil. He holds a patent for cleaning and sanitation for HVAC systems.
Fernando Bensoussan is a certified Legionella risk assessor and co-developed a water safety plan template for buildings and industries. He is a member and contributor to two ABNT committees: the Standard for Hot and Cold Water Systems and the Standard for Legionella Prevention in Water Systems. Fernando authored chapters in the books Legionella in the View of Specialists (2014) and Water Safety Plan in the View of Specialists (2015), and has written articles for trade publications.
